Tag: fear

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What Are You Waiting For? A Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic

28 Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength; NKJV

I’ve always tried to practice the wise saying that says, “The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.” (Proverbs 15:28) During this coronavirus pandemic I have not said much on social media yet, except to caution us not to live in fear because I wanted to be sure of what I say. The last thing I want to do is mislead anyone.

In the midst of this Pandemic there are many voices who have rushed to announce the end of the world is coming or that this is a great plague sent by God on an evil and unbelieving generation. I do not want to join those voices. They rush to pronounce a judgment that if it is true, only God knows.

Rather, I have chosen not to comment much but instead to study how to answer the cacophony of questions, most of which begin with the word, ‘why’. While I certainly do not feel qualified to answer all those questions, I do have some thoughts to offer to the dialogue. Here are a few things I believe I can say in response…

Questions: Why is this virus happening? Is it not God’s judgment on us?

Answers:

Perhaps, but only God knows for sure. But if this virus is a judgment from God to punish an unbelieving world, then so is every other sickness, malady and tragic occurrence that has ever happened. The problem with that line of thinking is that it misses the true character of God and the true nature of the world in which we live. God is good all the time – and everything he created is good.

All the bad things that happen in our world (and have happened since the Fall of Adam and Eve) are NOT God’s direct judgment on humanity; that will come at the end of time. They are, if you will, God’s indirect judgment. They are the consequences of living in a fallen world…of humanity’s choice to disobey God and to not love Him and our neighbor.

God doesn’t need to sit around and think up thinks with which to afflict our world: wars, famines, earthquakes, and diseases. All these things entered our world as consequences of sin, and the death it brought to the natural order. We should not be surprised when they happen. And, we should not look for a supernatural reason with which to blame God.

When tragedies occur, whether through widespread disease or natural environmental disasters, we need to see them for what they are – reminders that we are not in control of anything, except our own will in how we respond.

Our Response:

So, what should our response be? Our response should be threefold:

To listen to our authorities who are trying to help us stop the spread of this disease. Yes, even if that means we need to practice ‘social distancing’ for a while…maybe even a long while. I prefer to call it ‘physical distancing’. We can still be social through social media. Right?

To pray for God’s mercy for our world, this situation, and those who are suffering and dying and giving their lives to defend us. Scripture is filled with calls for God’s mercy, as well as promises of His mercy to those who seek Him. The great English reformer, John Wesley said, “I believe God does nothing but in answer to prayer.” Think about it. God can do anything but why should He intervene on our behalf. God desires that we seek Him and His blessing. Prayer changes things.

To wait…scripture promises good things come to those who wait for Him to act. That does not mean we do nothing. A big part of waiting is praying, listening, and doing as He leads. It is in waiting on the Lord that we find new strength. It is in actively waiting as we pray that He leads us to answers, to develop proper treatments, and to find cures.

“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.” Lam. 3:25 NKJV

Scripture is clear. Have you not heard? Even the strong and mighty fall. But God gives strength to the weary…to those who wait on Him. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s all listen, pray, and wait on the Lord to lead us through this Pandemic, as He has all the others throughout history. Deliverance always belongs to the Lord.

Shalom,

Pastor Brad

Image credit: https://www.nejm.org/coronavirus

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The Truth About Wisdom and Fear

 

Serve the LORD with fear, with trembling, kiss his feet, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way; for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 2:11-12

Wisdom is highly valued in every society. But, what is wisdom really? Is it the accumulation of much knowledge? Perhaps in a sense it is. Or, is wisdom the ability to use common sense in everyday life? Some people are said to be wise in “street smarts”, or from the “school of hard knocks”, where they were educated in such common sense wisdom. Whatever wisdom is, it must have a beginning, a time when we really begin to learn. Proverbs 9:10 tells us that the beginning of wisdom is when we “fear” God.

Psalm 2 teaches us just why fear of God is where all wisdom begins. In the Psalm, the Lord (vs. 2) is God the Father, but the voice of the Psalm is Jesus, the Son who was begotten of the Father (vs. 7). The Father has given the world and all that is in it, kings and kingdoms, rulers and authorities, over to the Son as His inheritance. Fear of God will always lead us to love Him, because we will see how much He has loved us through the giving of His Son.

It seems there are many to fear in this world; criminals, terrorist, evil rulers. Yet, in all of these things there is really only One whom we must fear, One who is greater, One who rules with all wisdom and authority because the world is His and He made it:

“Thus you shall say to them, “The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from under the heavens. It is He who made the earth by His power, Who established the world by His wisdom; And by His understanding He has stretched out the heavens.…” Jer. 10:11-12

So, how do we live in this world and not fear the, “terror that stalks by night, or the arrow that flies by day” (Ps 91)? By learning to develop a healthy fear of God our Father, which only comes as we grow in relationship to Him as He is revealed to us in His Son, Jesus Christ. And, by learning to know Jesus as the Good Shepherd how watches over His sheep (Jn 10). In verses 11-12 the Psalmist admonishes us to, “be instructed” and to “lay hold of His instruction”. If we fail to learn from Jesus we may, “perish from the righteous way” (vs. 12).

Do you have a healthy fear of God? Are you being instructed by Him as you walk through your everyday life? I hope so. Fearing God and learning from Him are the hallmarks of an intentional disciple of Jesus. Remember, “Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”, for they are truly wise.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Brad

image credit: http://aneshwithword4mgod.blogspot.com/2012/03/do-you-fear-him.html

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With Suffering Comes Power

“that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

Philippians 3:10-11

To join a fellowship usually brings prestige or social recognition, such as a fellowship of doctors or an educational society. We even call gatherings for eating together fellowship. However, there is one fellowship that is sure not to bring social ease or prestige – the fellowship of Jesus’ sufferings.

But, while identifying with Jesus’ sufferings may not bring the praise of society, you can count on it bringing power, the power of the resurrection. What is it about suffering that caused St. Paul to be certain of such an alignment between power and suffering? Paul knew that if Satan was deprived of the greatest fear he could bring, the fear of dying, then he would have no power over humans.

By embracing the suffering of Jesus, a suffering that leads to death, we put Satan on notice that he can’t harm us. Not even the power of death can keep us from resurrection in Christ Jesus. With that confidence we can see why Paul said, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31)

So what are your fears today? If you want the power to face your fears with strength, then realize that any suffering that may come your way from what you presently fear is already a victory. Christians need not fear. St. Peter tells us, “His divine power has given us everything we need…” (2 Peter 1:3) We have victory in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. Death truly has lost it’s sting.

Always remember, Christ is risen…and so are you!

Grace & Peace,

+Pastor Brad

 

Prayer

Almighty God, my Father,  help me to see Christ’s resurrecting power at work in my life bringing victory of suffering and fear. Amen. Alleluia!

Image credit: http://thepainteddoor.org/series/details/the-fellowship-of-his-sufferings

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All That Is Hidden Will Be Revealed

Hidden

This Week’s Gospel – Click to Read: Luke 8:41-56

Jesus Heals the Woman With the Issue of Blood

It is a sad commentary that some who come to faith in Jesus Christ think they can hide the fact from everyone around them. They want the healing that comes through Jesus, but they really do not want to change; they are afraid to be seen as, somehow, different. But, the truth is once we have encountered the risen Christ in a personal way we are different, and we will never be the same again.

The gospel this week tells of a woman who wanted desperately to be healed of her affliction. In fact, she had spent most of her money going to doctors, year after year, but to no avail; none could heal her. Then, she met Jesus.

She heard He was coming to her village. The crowds were huge that day. The streets were like wall-to-wall people crammed together all trying to get a get a glimpse of the miracle worker. Some perhaps, wanted to try and touch Him thinking that would make them well. Such was the lady whom had spent her life’s savings on doctors that could never heal her.

When the woman actually got close enough to Jesus to touch his garments, she felt it. She knew it had worked. She could feel it in her body. She was healed – instantly! All those years and all that money wasted, looking for a cure that came with just a touch. Why? What was different? This time she came in faith, not to a man, but to God.

Everyone had said Jesus was the Messiah. She had heard such amazing stories; the blind saw, the lame walked, the dead were raised. She knew it must be true. Her faith told her if she could just touch Him, she too would be healed. And so she was.

You would think she would have shouted for joy! I think I would have screamed Hallelujah! But, not her. Verse 47 says that when she realized she was not hidden, she fell at Jesus’ feet. Not only did Jesus know she was healed, everyone else did too as He exclaimed, “Who touched me?”

We can’t come to Jesus on our own terms, expecting to get everything we want, and not have to give anything in return. Hey “I thought grace was free”, you say? Grace is free, but Jesus is not a vending machine. We cannot just come to Jesus anytime we want, put in a quarter, and get whatever we want, then walk away as if we just made a secret transaction. No, Jesus wants us to show the world what He has done for us.

The woman wanted to stay hidden. She wanted to go back to living her private life with her newly healed body as if nothing ever happened. When Jesus touches our lives it is a big deal! So big that He wants the world to know.

Why is it so important for us to show the world what Jesus has done for us? Because, He is the answer to all the world’s needs and if we don’t tell what He has done for us, others will continue looking for answers in all the wrong places. They will keep wasting their money on would be cures that never happen. Our testimony might be the key to unlocking Jesus’ healing in someone else.

This Week:

What about you? Are you still living as if you are trying to hide like the woman did. I know God wants to touch your life in a powerful and meaningful way. He wants to heal all that is broken in you. But, He wants you to give Him the glory, and you do that by telling others what He has done for you.

Won’t you come to Jesus with all your needs. He may take the burden away from you, or give you the grace to bear up under it, either way His healing is always perfect. Let him heal you, and then live out your amazing testimony. Others will see, and others will come. All that is hidden will one day be revealed.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Brad

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

Matthew 5:6